Don Nelson, NBA legend, dies

Don Nelson, one of the most influential figures in NBA history, has passed away at the age of 86. The legendary coach and five-time player champion died this Sunday surrounded by his family, as confirmed by his close circle

Nelson's family announced his death with a message explaining that the former coach spent his last days surrounded by family and friends, sharing memories of a life marked by basketball.

Nelson ended his coaching career with 1,335 victories in the regular season, a record that made him the coach with the most wins in NBA history until Gregg Popovich surpassed his mark in March 2022. He coached for 31 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks, including two different stints with the Warriors.

Throughout his coaching career, he competed in 18 playoffs with a record of 75-91 and was named Coach of the Year three times, in 1983, 1985, and 1992. However, he never managed to win a championship.

His significant contribution to basketball went beyond results. Nelson revolutionized the NBA with his philosophy known as 'Nellie Ball', based on small lineups, versatile players, speed, and the constant creation of favorable matchups. A proposal that was risky at the time and ended up anticipating much of modern basketball.

"Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today," said Steve Kerr, current coach of the Warriors. "He constantly challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and playing styles, and saw possibilities that others did not."

The creator of 'Run TMC'

One of the best demonstrations of his philosophy came during his first stint with the Golden State in the early 90s. Nelson decided to put on the court Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin, three perimeter players who formed the legendary 'Run TMC'.

The gamble on such a small and offensive team was revolutionary for the time and turned the Warriors into one of the most spectacular teams in the NBA.

"Nellie was ahead of his time, and there was no one like him," Hardaway recalled. "He had an incredible impact on my career and on basketball."

Five rings as a player with the Celtics

Before becoming a coach, Nelson enjoyed a brilliant career as a player. He played 14 seasons in the NBA, but it was his 11 years with the Boston Celtics that defined his career.

With the Celtics, he won five NBA championships, and the franchise retired his number 19 in 1978. Nelson played 1,053 regular-season games, averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds.

One of his most remembered moments came in the seventh game of the 1969 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In the final minutes, a free throw he took bounced on the rim before going in, giving Boston a three-point lead.

The man who believed in Nowitzki and Nash

Nelson also played a crucial role in the reconstruction of the Dallas Mavericks. During his eight seasons with the franchise, he was directly involved in bringing in Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, two future Hall of Famers.

The decision to go for Nowitzki was particularly daring. Nelson was convinced of the German's potential before the 1998 Draft, and the Mavericks even hid him in Dallas for several days to prevent other teams from seeing him train.

Nowitzki recalled Nelson's importance in his career on Sunday:

"Nellie... You didn't just pick me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I knew I could do them myself."

The German stated that he doesn't think his career would have been the same without Nelson as his first NBA coach.

Also believed in Stephen Curry

Nelson's talent-spotting ability was evident again in 2009. As the coach of the Golden State, he trusted Stephen Curry when many doubted the guard could become an NBA star.

The Warriors eventually drafted him 7th overall.

"One of the main reasons I was chosen by the Warriors was Don Nelson," acknowledged Curry. "He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will be remembered as one of the great minds in basketball history."

Curry also fondly remembered when Nelson became the coach with the most victories in NBA history.

A legendary career

Nelson coached the All-Star Game twice and also led the United States in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, where he won the gold medal with the team known as 'Dream Team II'.

In 2012, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2025, he received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition of his coaching career.

Even in his later years, he continued to show his personality. During the award ceremony in 2025, he wore Luka Doncic's sneakers as a protest against the Slovenian's trade from Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move he described as a "tremendous mistake."

Doncic also wanted to bid farewell to Nelson publicly.

"It's a sad day for basketball with Don Nelson's passing," wrote the player. "I have immense respect for him and for everything he did for this sport, especially for the way he believed in international players. I am grateful for the time I spent with him."

After leaving coaching, Nelson retired to a 22-acre farm in Maui, where he started various businesses and cultivated flowers, coffee, and cannabis. Following the devastating fires that affected Maui in 2023, he opened his rental properties to families who had lost their homes.

"Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball with his courage, ingenuity, and deep conviction," said Commissioner Adam Silver. "His impact on our sport will continue to be felt for generations."

With his passing, one of the great figures in NBA history disappears: five-time champion as a player, three-time Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame member, and one of the great innovators who helped transform modern basketball.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Muere Don Nelson, leyenda de la NBA